The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that fewer than one in three countries worldwide have a national policy to address the rising burden of neurological disorders, which account for more than 11 million deaths annually. According to WHO’s newly released Global Status Report on Neurology, neurological conditions now affect over 40% of the global population — more than 3 billion people.
The report identifies the top 10 neurological conditions contributing to global death and disability in 2021: stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, idiopathic epilepsy, neurological complications linked to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorders, and cancers of the nervous system.
Despite this massive health burden, the neurology workforce remains critically inadequate — with low-income countries having more than 80 times fewer neurologists per capita compared to high-income nations. WHO warns that many low- and middle-income countries lack national plans, budgets, and skilled personnel, leaving millions without access to essential neurological care.
“With more than 1 in 3 people in the world living with conditions affecting their brain we must do all we can to improve the health care they need,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General, Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control. “Many of these neurological conditions can be prevented or effectively treated, yet services remain out of reach for most – especially in rural and underserved areas – where people too often face stigma, social exclusion and financial hardship. We must work together to ensure we put patients and their families first and that brain health is prioritized and properly invested in.”
The first-of-its-kind analysis reveals that only 53% of WHO Member States (102 out of 194) contributed data — a sign of the limited attention neurology receives. Merely 32% (63 countries) have a national policy on neurological disorders, and just 18% (34 countries) allocate dedicated funding.
Only 25% of Member States (49 countries) include neurological disorders in their universal health coverage (UHC) packages. Critical services such as stroke units, pediatric neurology, rehabilitation, and palliative care remain concentrated in urban centers, excluding vast rural populations.
The report also highlights an acute shortage of trained neurologists, with low-income nations facing up to 82 times fewer specialists per 100,000 people compared to richer countries. Furthermore, just 46 countries offer carer services, and 44 provide legal protections for carers — leaving most families, particularly women, without institutional or financial support.
Weak health information systems and underfunded research, especially in resource-limited countries, further hinder evidence-based policymaking and service delivery.
In 2022, WHO Member States adopted the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders, providing a strategic framework to:
Strengthen national policy prioritization and health system capacity;
Expand access to timely and effective neurological care;
Promote brain health across all ages; and
Enhance data systems and accountability.
WHO warns that without urgent action, the global burden of neurological conditions will continue to rise, widening health inequalities. Governments are urged to prioritize brain health, invest in neurology services, and ensure that every patient — regardless of geography or income — can access the care they need.
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